Wilcoxia schmollii

Wilcoxia schmolliiEchinocereus schmollii is a small usually solitary or scarcely branched cactus with tuberous roots and thin, limp stems that in the wild needs the support of some host bush branches, stem tend to snake around when plant is cultivated, if not supported with sticks. Echinocereus schmollii was originally named and for the long time called Wilcoxia schmollii. This species occurs in semidesert, and has a narrow range of tolerance in soil type. Currently

Echinocereus schmollii is a small usually solitary or scarcely branched cactus with tuberous roots and thin, limp stems that in the wild needs the support of some host bush branches, stem tend to snake around when plant is cultivated, if not supported with sticks. Echinocereus schmollii was originally named and for the long time called Wilcoxia schmollii. This species occurs in semidesert, and has a narrow range of tolerance in soil type. Currently Echinocereus schmollii survives in eleven restricted and localized populations from two disjunct small areas in an isolated region in the south of the Chihuahuan Desert. Even when individuals reach an adequate size to produce flowers, flower and seed production is scarce. In the wild population regeneration is mainly driven by vegetative reproduction.

Common Names: Lamb's tail Cactus, Dahlia Hedgehog Cactus, Dahalia Cactus, Lead pencil Cactus, Pencil Cactus
Roots: Tuberous.
Stem: Pencil-like, thin, cylindrical, initially erect, later sprawling or clambering, purplish to blackish green, 25 cm long, 1 cm in diameter with 9-10 rounded tuberculate ribs.
Areoles:1.5 mm wide, 2 mm apart
Spines: Up to 35 very thin, 3-7 mm long, hairlike, pinkish to whitish-grey, reddish at the apex, giving the stem a woolly appearance.
Flowers: Showy, funnelform pink to magenta near the tips of older stems, 3-5 cm long,5-6 cm in diameter.
Blooming season: Flowers are easily produced, usually several waves of blooms over the summer.
Fruit: Ovoid or roundish, purplish green and juicy.
Remarks: It apparently looks like some Peniocereus species. However the flowers, fruits, and seeds of Echinocereus schmollii are characteristic for Echinocereus
Sun Exposure: Best in full or partial sun exposure. In mild climate they grow well when planted freely outside in well-drained soil.
Frost hardiness: It is quite frost hardy -7 (-10)° C.
Maintenance: During the winter months it may become dormant, during which no moisture is required, and the plants should be grown cool and dry (at -5 +10°C). This is important for the flowers as well as for its health. Without this cool winter period it normally won't get any buds.

Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz